My 6-month old kitten keeps jumping up on the kitchen table, kitchen counters, and stove area. When I notice, I clap and in a firm voice say "no"...I pick her up by her scruff and put her in time out in the bathroom...I've even bonked her lightly on the head a few times...nothing seems to work. Any ideas? Would anyone suggest using a bitter apple spray?
2007-10-09 19:54:43 · 10 answers · asked by CBZaborowski 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
Just get a squirt bottle and fill it with water and when she jumps up squirt her in the face. Then when she jumps down, continue to squirt her until she gets out of range. Don't worry about getting her too wet. She'll decide how wet she wants to be. Be sure to say "NO" sharply when she does this. It's her nature to want to jump up on things. Does she have access to a window where she could look out? Giving her a "time out" and bonking her on the head will have no effect. This just doesn't work on cats.
I have also picked the kitten off the table by the scruff of the neck and jiggled her in front of my face when I said ,"NO". It helped at least when I was in the room. If she has issues about what she can and cannot do, I'd suggest confining her when you're asleep or when you're not home. That way she won't have a chance to get into trouble and it will reinforce your treatment because she won't be able to do it when you're not there.
Kitchen countertops and stoves are a safety issue for both you and the cat (litterbox germs tracked onto the counter) so it's good that you're working on it. Other things that might work are double-sided tape stuck on the countertop near the edge and aluminum foil. Both are common items in the home. Absolutely do not use a repellent in the kitchen. They're so offensive you really wouldn't want your kitchen to smell like that and they're not safe around food. Bitter apple only works on kids who suck their thumbs, not cats.
2007-10-09 20:19:02 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have 2 kittens that like to get on our pub table (also our primary dining table). So far firm NOs, and scruffing does not work. Sometimes they will listen to me and actually come down when I give them the down command and point at the ground. They got treats the first few times they followed but afterwards it seemed that they think they can get treats if they got on the table. So no more treats. They get off if they feel like being nice.
My bf finally tried a water spray bottle. It is very very effective at getting the kitties off the table in less than a second.
It works when they nibble and play with my plants. It works to get them off the kitchen counters. My only concern is that they might be associating the water with us because they are very good about seeking the source. I haven't been good about hiding from view as the water hits them.
2007-10-09 20:41:47 · answer #2 · answered by Blk_Kitties 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We had a similar problem with our cat. She knew she wasn't supposed to get up on the counter, but she would get up there when we weren't looking. I can't see how the bitter apple spray would hurt, although I have never tried it. I believe I have heard that cats don't like aluminum foil and they won't go on surfaces that are covered in it. So perhaps you can put foil on the counter, etc. and she just might stay away from it after a while.
2007-10-09 20:00:07 · answer #3 · answered by drshorty 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have always used a spray bottle, I find it effective and it doesn't hurt the kitten at all.....just water does the trick and a harsh NO..soon they anticipate the spray of water and just a NO is enough :)
2007-10-09 20:35:44 · answer #4 · answered by Bec 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Buy a squirt gun. Every time she jumps up on something she's not supposed to , give her a squirt with the gun. She will soon associate the unpleasant feeling of being squirted with jumping on what she's not supposed to be on."Time-outs" and bonks on the head not work for cats. The squirt gun should help.
2007-10-09 20:15:00 · answer #5 · answered by Jeanne Z 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Spray with a water bottle. Kitten will learn quickly.
2007-10-09 20:03:10 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I used a water bottle. And everytime my cats have been given up there i might squirt her with the water bottle. at last she found out to not bounce up there. also have a scratching positioned up for the kitten. And in the event that they save leaping up on issues you do not want your kitten to be on. Take them from the counter and positioned them on the scratching positioned up, and take its little paws and faucet the positioned up. That tells the kitten it extremely is for you.. or sprinkle catnip on the scratching positioned up. additionally they make a twig at walmart that retains the animals off the places you do not want them to be on. and that they have got it at lowes, it smells like apples to me. sturdy luck, and it takes endurance.
2016-10-06 10:18:21 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nothing it's a kitten they do that. When they are little they are rascals....my aunt has a 2 yr old and I swear he thinks he's a monkey......he's as wild as a March hare! Her attempts have all failed. The vet even had no suggestions......good luck!
2007-10-09 20:00:15 · answer #8 · answered by Sage 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
spray bottle. Spray him when he jumps. Cats don't like water. Its doesn't really "hurt" him either.
2007-10-09 19:59:51 · answer #9 · answered by firerookie 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
give it a frim but not hard tap and say NO!! in a deap voice eventually it will idea that thast not allowed
2007-10-09 19:59:08 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋